Pencil



Nov. 15, 193s. J'. p. LYNN 2,137,022

PENCIL Filed June l 1936 l @MW 25% Patented Nov. 15, 1938 PENCIL i .lohn P. Lynn, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Dur-O-Lite Pencil Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 1, 1936, Serial No. 82,687

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a pencil having a propelling mechanism actuated by relative rotation between its body and a tip which is releasably connected thereto. More particularly this invention has to do with certain improvements by which I attain greater simplicity and lightness in the construction of the pencil body. In addition, the present improvements are directed to a head for the body, and to the mounting of a clip exteriorly of the body in cooperation with the head. The advantages and purposes of these improvements, as well as others which will hereinafter appear, are set forth in the succeeding description and claims, and in the accom- 4l5: panying drawing wherein is illustrated certain suggestive embodiments of my invention, as follows:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken centrally through the pencil in its extirety; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken, respectively, on lines Z--2, 3 3 and 44, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the sleeve which is tted into the chambered head of the pencil;

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the head and shoulder portion of the clip which is secured to a pencil having the construction of Fig. 1;

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a pencil whose head is modified in construction;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section therethrough, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

5 Fig. 9 is a detail in perspective of the channeled head end of the insert used with the pencil of Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 10, which is a View similar to Fig'. '7, shows a pencil having a modied construction ,m of head having a'split sleeve;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section, taken on line II-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12, which is a similar section, shows the split sleeve with its ends overlapped as during the operation of assembly; and

Fig. 13 is a view in perspective of the sleeve which is tted into the chambered head of the pencil construction shown in Fig. `l0.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the operating unit.of 5() the present pencil may comprise a generally conical tip A of composition material with a metallic terminal I5 through which is a bore forming a guide for a lead L which is fed therethrough. Within the terminal is an axial bore wherein is anchored one end of a guide tube I6 extendface for the insert. As indicated in Figs. 2 and (Cl. 1Z0-18) ing through the tip and therebeyond for reception within' an axial passageway in the body, presently to be described. The upper end of this tube terminates in a neck I'I having internal threads for engaging with the external threads 5 of a metal propeller I8 at whose upper end is a at wide head I9, as shown. Such fa propelling mechanism is well known in the art, an example thereof being disclosed in the Lynn Patent No. 1,828,871 of October 27, 1931.

The pencil body comprises a cylindrical shell S which surrounds an insert I. The lower end of the shell which desirably extends just beyond the corresponding end of the .insert is adapted to abut the proximate end of the tip l5 which, as shown, is cylindrical. At its lower end the insert is provided with an extension which is slightly reduced in diameter so as to enter and fit within a cylindrical chamber 2B in the proximate end of the tip. The shell may be 20 of any suitable materiaL-moldable composition preferred, and its walls are suiiiciently thin to endow the shell with resiliency. The insert is, by preference, light in weight and for this purpose is desirably formed of moldable composition material. Relatively considered, the shell is desirably softer than the insert whose density is somewhat greater. The primary purpose of the shell is to provide a suitable exterior sur- 3() 3, the interior surface of the shell is cylindrical and the exterior surface of the insert is polygonal, the angles formed by its meeting faces engaging with the smooth inner surface of the shell. In practice, the insert may beirictionally iitted within the shell so that, once assembled, they remain inseparably and immovably joined. in the process of assembly the insert may, if necessary, cut line grooves in the inner surface of the shell whereby to resist eiiectively any possibility of relative rotation therebetween. The air spaces between the insert and shell conduce appreciably to lightness in weight, and also permit of slight flexing of the shell in response to pressure of the hand in use.

The insert is provided axially with an elongated non-round passageway or bore the cross sectional form of which is best indicated in Fig. 2. This passageway comprises an axial cylindrical opening 2| with slots 22 extending lengthwise along opposite sides thereof. Such a passageway is adapted to accommodate the propeller and its head which is free to slide longitudinally but notI rotatively therewithin, movement of the metal propeller within the composition insert taking 55 Cil place without noise or squeaks of any kind. 'I'he lower end of this passageway is cylindrical in contour to accommodate a lining 23 which is anchored xedly therewithin. The lower end of the lining extending into the chamber of the tip is slitted to provide spring sections adapted to engage frictionally, yet rotatably, with the guide tube I6 whereby the tip is secured releasably to the pencil body.

The passageway 2| terminates a substantial distance below the upper end -of the insert, according to the showing in Fig. l. A cross wall 25 separates this passageway from a chamber 26 which extends thereabove through to the upper end of the insert, thereby providing a magazine for the reception of reserve leads L. Beyond the end of the insert the walls of the shell are extended to lengthen the magazine chamber. As shown, the shell may be aligned interiorly with a head sleeve H (see Fig. 5) which is tted interiorly of the shell to present its lower end in substantial abutting relation to the upper end of the insert.

The sleeve which is desirably formed of some resilient material may be slitted as at 30 intermediately of its ends whereby to render its cylindrical surface somewhat compressible. In its upper region it is formed with an annular head 3| extending both inwardly and outwardly to provide, in eiTect, a pair of shoulders against one of which may be rested the bottom end of an eraser bushing 32 which is tted frictionally into the upper en'd of the sleeve. An inset panel 33 extends upwardly from the lower end of the sleeve along one side for a distance of perhaps half the length.

In the assembly of the sleeve within the upper end of the shell, the panel is located opposite a slot 35 through the shell. Into the space between the shell and panel is fitted the head 36 of a clip G having a neck 31 adapted to lie within the slot 35 of the shell, and exteriorly thereof a shoulder 38 below which is the clip body 39 terminating in a foot 40 adapted to bear with tension against the shell exterior. The clip is thus secured in place with its head accommodated within the sunken panel of the sleeve and its shoulder engaging with the shell exterior, and in this relation the parts may be locked as by pricking out a point 4| just below the clip neck.

Resting upon the upper end of the shell and confined in place by the bead 3| of the sleeve H is a ring 42 affording an ornamental annulus, and above the ring I may apply a cap C overlying an eraser for frictional fitting upon the upper end of the sleeve whereon I have provided certain ribs 43 which afford surfaces of limited areas with which the cap engages, thereby facilitating its removal from the pencil, when needed.

Substantially the same construction is disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 where the operating mechanism may be identical. As shown in Fig. '7, however, the insert I extends upwardly to a point beyond the corresponding end of the shell S whereby the chamber 26 within the insert requires no inner lining such as is furnished in the construction of Fig. I. Instead, the upper end of the insert is channeled along one side to provide a sunken panel 45 and thereabove is rounded to afford a cylindrical contour 46 adjacent its upper end. Exactly the same clip G may be applied to this pencil, its head being fitted against the panel 45 and below a slitted head sleeve H which is fitted around thc upper cylindrical end of the insert and to the inside of the shell S. This sleeve extends beyond the shell, as shown, to afford an interior surface against which may be fitted the eraser bushing 32 adapted to rest against the end of the insert; the cap C when applied over the sleeve may rest against a ring 42 forming a decorative annulus the same as hereinbefore described. For all practical purposes, this construction is the same as that described in connection with Fig. 1, and the manner of assembly of its parts is likewise the same.

Referring now to Figs. l0 to 13 inclusive, the insert I in this construction terminates well below the upper end of the shell S and the chamber 26 thus provided interiorly of the shell may be lined with a split head sleeve H (see Fig. 13) having interiorly of its ends a sunken panel 33 whose lower end lies opposite a slot 35 in the shell. A clip G, the same in construction as that previously described, is adapted to be carried by such a pencil with its neck passing through the slot so as to present the clip head 36 within the panel of the sleeve. The sleeve in this construction is produced from a plate rolled into a cylinder with its adjacent edges overlapped (see Fig. 12) during the act of assembly whereby to contract the sleeve as necessary for movement past the clip head to its iinal position where the sleeve springs out to fully expanded condition (see Fig. 11). When so positioned, the sleeve interlocks with the cliphead to secure both itself and the clip permanently in place. Fitted into the upper sleeve end is an eraser bushing 32 over which is a cap C having a frictional engagement with the exterior of the sleeve and resting upon a ring 42 which forms a decorative annulus.

It will be noted that the insert, together with the operating mechanism, is a unit complete in itself, and does not require the presence .of the outer shell for its functioning. Such a shell, however, is highly desirable because it furnishes a suitable exterior for the insert, and additionally, it cooperates therewith, or with the head sleeve, to secure in place a clip having the construction just described. For these reasons, the present improvements are highly advantageous.

I claim:

l. In a pencil comprising a tip portion carrying a lead propelling mechanism including a screw member with non-round head projected rearwardly and a body portion rotatably connected with said tip portion and having a nonround bore for cooperation with said screw member, the combination in said body of a relatively thin walled cylindrical shell and a tubular insert of moldable composition having a polygonal cross section irictionally inserted in said shell.

2. In a pencil having a body and a lead propelling mechanism mounted within said body for movement relative thereto, said body comprising a relatively thin walled cylindrical shell and a tubular insert of moldable composition having a polygonal cross section frictionally iitted within said shell.

J OHN P. LYNN. 

